Training the Past

The children's time was done, Tsubasa had found his answer with them. From observing he'd now prepare for the future or the past rather. His wife, she was someone he intended to teach. What would he educate her on, what could he show her to bring the woman back into happiness. She was a strong warrior and he needed to show her the strength sleeping within, Aiko was a woman gifted beyond her years. She knew much about Tsubasa that others didn't, he was a relaxed soul and seemed very content now. Something about his very being seemed calm, like nothing could quite shake him. Well this wasn't true, Aiko had been the old chink in the armor. She knew her away around his emotions. Tsubasa stood next to the dummies, the starting point for everything. His first time with these he left bloody, he gently touched the soft skull of the dummy. His eyes looking deeply into it as though thought provoked him to think on it. What came after this, their had to be an ending or was he destined to remain here forever?

No future enemies needed to be faced by the future, the past should be handled by the past. Tsubasa always worked hard, perhaps harder than any Captain had ever done in history. He had fought Khala and watched as many fell, before her and his power. Iriko was someone he'd always felt distant from, but something had changed about him. Tsubasa seemed almost human these days, how strange in the old enemies would of cowered at the very existence of him. He smiled something rare, only Aiko and his children ever managed to weasel it out of him. Perhaps growing up was something overdo, his beautiful wife so lovely that even God himself lusted. His eyes of crimson looked ahead, keeping that smile. Confident, he could do anything including turn Hitsugaya and Aiko into weapons unlike anything the world had seen. His eyes closed to meditate on it, he needed to focus. As did they, these dummies weren't the same as the children's. Every strike would cut far deeper than normal, so just bumping the dummy would feel as though being struck full force.

It wasn't something so simple that someone could put into words, his frame leaned upon the dummy, it was this creation. This was the thing that made him famous, it was a rare thing. Looking upon himself, his eyes looked over this boot camp he'd designed. His crimson eyes were warmer than they used to be. Their was an answer to be had out of life. Something worth living for had finally arrived, Aiko was that light. Hitsugaya still had his, Tsubasa needed to make sure he didn't lose it. Even if it meant protecting Hitsugaya from himself. He was going to witness something interesting, perhaps more over that anyone had seen. The chemistry of the Two Captains, The Head Captain who had earned the reputation of the devil.

This was only the beginning, Aiko and Hitsugaya had scratched the surface of the door they stood in front of. Forcing it open was one thing, but knowing what laid beyond. Experiencing the absolutely bliss that existed in finding the balance Tsubasa had. It was time for him to pass it on to Hitsugaya and Aiko, his wife was wild in many respects. But he knew even if she flirted and teased other men, her heart couldn't be taken. Aiko loved only one person and that was her husband. Tsubasa was the person she adored more than anyone, his crimson eyes stared ahead past the dummy. This place once was where death was dealt, such a suitable place for a killer. His frame sat down slowly the fighting and battles were so rough. It wasn't likely that he'd ever learn to find a way out of this. Tsubasa pondered now a question, what happened after all this? Would he and AIko simply disappear and journey the world doing as they pleased? It was odd but that was somehow very desirable.

The time had finally come for the couple's destined training. Aiko was in many ways unlike those he had trained before, and the idea went farther than the embodiment of the cliche or the fact that she was his spouse. Either on skills or mentally she was indeed quite different than others. That did not necessarily mean she was much better or worse than others but instead just that... different. She knew quite well the reason she was being trained. There was no need for her husband to explain or elaborate how he might have with other Captains. While Aiko was not the one in charge of the 12th Division, few could say the lady was not as wise as the best of them. Whether she liked to show it or not was a different thing since her behavior purposely placed her in a position of relatively low threat in most playing fields; but that was just what she wanted. She didn't aimed to fool, it was just the way she was.

There was no contending that she was indeed quite powerful. Her heritage, her upbringing, her teachers and her innate talent were among the best of the best. Of course, like any other, one could always improve. That still held true for anyone that lived, and it included Tsubasa. Aiko knew probably a bit more than any other about this. While every men and women certainly displayed and hid their strengths and weaknesses well, Tsubasa was capable of hiding them completely from others. Still, she was able to discerns the little nooks and oddities that troubled him. Likewise, he could read her just as clearly as she could read him. It was probably a marital thing.

In any case, she wasn't there to trade blows. She wasn't there to compete with her husband nor to try to beat him in any area, and neither would he. He was wiser than that, and so was her. Defeating either a master or a student held little purpose other than to assert dominance. And that, on the Sereitei, was not something she saw happen often as there was some relative level of respect; even more so among these two. She was there to be trained to grow stronger, but she was also there to help her husband grow stronger himself. She was capable not only to provide the mental foundation on which he could rely on but she was certainly strong enough to the point where he could probably learn a thing or two from his wife just like she would learn invaluable things from him. Perhaps the one thing about her that her husband had been keen about for a while was her potential. While she was certainly capable on her own right already, her potential for development given her skills and her background was scary. In fact, it could probably be as menacing as Tsubasa's himself. However, it made sense that someone like her would fit so nicely thus then with someone like him.

Arriving on the battlefield, there were fewer people around to keep up the barriers than there had been on the average encounter. While the numbers had indeed been decreased the ability of those present certainly overshadowed the previous making it more of a matter of quality over quantity. Since it was his wife, and one whose powers were both feared and shrouded in mystery, it was a good idea on their part to involve only the necessary people in the training. Its not like the training would showcase every single skill known by one another but it would seek to improve both of their potential beyond their previously attained prowess and leave stronger than they had arrived.

Upon coming with a good distance from him, she sent a smile, a wink, and a quick kiss his way. While they would get serious and into the fray in just a bit, there was no way she wouldn't greet her hubby. As she walked, her typical uniform looked as clean as ever though the battle would probably dirty it and rip it beyond belief. It was certainly a good thing that she had more spares than she could count. The mini blue skirt seemed to allow her to move without any form of trouble and the short white top stopping just below her breasts allowed her enough room to maneuver as she desired. Her Zanpakutō, odd as she was, maintained its seal form as her gloves. Swinging her arms back but somewhat slower she stretched, "Ready whenever you are babe."

"Finally..." Hitsugaya sighed out; exasperated. He had just finished the last of his paperwork, the finishing time was the wee' twilight hours of the early morning. Hardly even dawn yet. Without distractions such as his previous lieutenant, Matsumoto, this could easily be considered record time. Part of him was reveling in the ease of it, the rest sort of missed it; but he'd never say that much out loud. Since the inception of the still yet unofficially named division that was created to act as a 'zero division with the soul society as its priority, as apposed to the actual zero division whom was charged with the realm which the soul king dwelled in', Captain Unohana was keeping him more than a little busy as her lieutenant; something he didn't mind at all. In fact, he liked being kept busy. In a weird sort of way, it helped him relax. Perks of being a busy body maybe? Toshiro slouched his form backwards into his chair, looking forward toward the dimly light desk that had demanded his entire night . His aqua hued optics slowly drifted to the base of the windowsill to his right, observing the tree that sat just outside his window. Ironically, it was a cherry blossom tree. And considering the season, the plant was in full bloom. The morning dew gently reflected the small amount of light that washed over it which signaled that dawn was steadily approaching. It was not long before Toshiro felt it coming on; the fatigue he had been keeping at bay to this point. Slowly, his strength ebbed away. The will to fight it had left him. His eyelids betrayed him, closing ever so slowly as he meekly fought to stay awake for a reason only he would ever know; it was in his dreams he couldn't choke down the feelings and memories that haunted him every night. The last of his resistance faded as was signaled by the light thud his wrist made against his desk as a result of him falling asleep.

It was in the high time of summer, some number of time ago. The sun was blazing and the heat was unbearable, Toshiro was kept company only by the sound of cicadas making their cries to their heart's content. He was taking the time to go shopping for food and the like, he had a bad habit of getting too caught up in his work and forgetting that like every other being, he needed food. He spent the next hour or so travelling to a store at his leisure. Obviously, he could flash step there and such. But that required effort, hell, this required effort. God, how he hated the summer. It was a giant segment of the year that had nothing but every kind of weather he disliked. Why the heck did Matsumoto have to convince him to go out and get food. He would've told her to mind her own, but the clear amount of concern in her voice made it hard to say no. But for the love of.. It's just so 'effing hot. "Go shopping she said.. I'm worried about you she said..." he muttered quietly, but in quite the disdainful tone of voice. Some more time passed and in the middle of his journey, he crossed a small café for people to sit and have some food and drink as well as some times pass the time socializing. He took a seat and ordered some water in the most polite manner he could muster in his obviously flustered state. What? He hated the heat. Makes him cranky. Even so, this request obviously came out as edgy because the look on the waiter's face said 'zomg, please don't eat me'. A few moments pass and the small woman brought him a large cup of water with a cautious look on her face. "Thank you.." he said kindly, trying to not take out his frustration on a bystander. She smiled at him, clearly relieved he wasn't upset at her for some reason or other. Drinking his water, Toshiro could hear the voice of Matsumoto speaking to someone. He listened closer. She was speaking with Momo. Judging by the sound of it, the two were making their way to this very spot. 'Knowing him, he should be around here.' Matsumoto said in her usual semi-obnoxious voice. 'You think? Shiro-chan never did like the heat..' Momo said anxiously, she was nervous about this meeting between them; they haven't spoken for quite some time. This meeting... A surprise meeting that he wasn't made aware of.. Son of a..--! 'I'll bet he's in there with some water trying to cool down in the shade.' Matsumoto replied, trying to sooth Momo's nerves by making the conversation continue until the two parties united. By the time they cleared passed the entrance to the place, the view the were registering was absent a Toshiro. Matsumoto sighed with some irritability and Momo downcast her eyes sadly to the ground. Toshiro had flash stepped out of eyesight, but close enough he could hear them. They sat down, Matsumoto trying to comfort her. Trying to help her understand why the closest person to her heart was avoiding contact with her since the incident with Aizen. He was outside, listening, leaning against the wall to the left of the door. He could almost hardly hear them over the sound of his heart in his ears. That was close. He wasn't ready to see her, not after what he did. 'I miss him.' Momo said in a small voice. Toshiro's heart sank. Every fiber of his being wanted to reenter the building and finally make contact. But he swallowed the urge and trekked back to his office. He was done for the day. If Hitsugaya wasn't against the idea of venturing to find a new lieutenant, he'd so fire that woman.

Hitsugaya awoke with a jolt, not to mention a light pain in his forehead. As it turns out, at some point in his slumber he leaned forward and planted his face square into his desk; which was the likely culprit behind his sudden alerted state. As if that wasn't enough, he felt a small trickle off some liquid quickly identified as saliva. Something he hurriedly did away with via his sleeve. Usually, he loved sleeping. There was a saying about it; that if you slept a lot, you grow a lot. Or something to that effect. But since his subconscious started developing a smart ass attitude, he was not so keen on sleeping whenever he could any more. Sometimes he found himself doing the exact opposite actually, and avoiding sleep all together. Either way, it was a good thing he was awake. He had things to do. He took a quick glance out through the window to the outside world, which told him the time was about some time in the early morning. Say, around a little after eight o' clock or something to that effect. He stood upright, grabbing his Zanpakutō which was leaned against the right side of his office desk. Close enough, obviously, for if he ever needed to grab it with a sense of urgency. He gestured it to his back, a place he was always fond of keeping it and he then exited his office. He did a number of other jobs he had to take care of, then he made way to a training ground. As it turns out, he had plans to train with Tsubasa. Without a doubt, it was the Captain-Commander who was rather insistent on the idea of training Hitsugaya in some manner or another. Something of which Toshiro offered little to no protest against, or rather, he liked the idea of being trained by the leader of the Gotei 13. Kept him busy, trained his skills, things of that nature. It wasn't too awful long before Toshiro decided to flash step the rest of the way toward the vicinity to which he was meant to be training inside of. Him, Tsubasa and the wife of Tsubasa. Yes, he was well aware of all the individuals participating in this endeavor.

In the form of a flicker, the lean form of Hitsugaya made itself known in close proximity to that of Tsubasa and the man's significant other. He walked out of the flash step and toward the figures of the other two which would also be taking part in this exercise. His aqua hues coldly looking at the both of them, observing them. He casually blinked his gaze toward Tsubasa and motioned himself to the side of the man, getting right to the point. As per usual, it was business fist with this male. Assuming there was ever anything else aside from that. "I'm here as ordered, Captain-Commander." Toshiro pointed out, those being the only words he offered freely. Nothing else really being said needlessly. He wasn't much of a talker normally, unless the occasion really called for it. He pushed the dream and everything else out of his mind. He had to focus. It was time to get in this and get his game face on. Separating business life from personal life is something Toshiro was rather good at actually. So..! Let the training commence.